Maher injury doubt for Tipp’s clash with Dubs
Maher limped off with a hip injury midway through the second-half of Saturday night’s defeat to Kilkenny in Thurles and the 22-year-old is rated as doubtful for the Croke Park clash.
However, midfield partner Shane McGrath and centre-back Conor O’Mahony are expected to be fit. McGrath and O’Mahony both came off at half-time against the Cats suffering from stomach complaints.
Tipperary have a number of other injury worries with Seamus Callanan (broken collarbone), Lar Corbett (toe), Paul Curran (A/C shoulder) and Paul Kelly (hamstring) are all sidelined. Tipperary medics have also indicated that John O’Brien is still a few weeks away from full fitness following surgery on his arm while the versatile Seamus Hennessy is struggling with a knee cartilage complaint.
Meanwhile Noel McGrath has revealed the transition between former boss Liam Sheedy and new manager Declan Ryan has been a smooth one.
“We had him at minors, so we’re used to him and everyone just slotted in as if it he always there.
“You have a lot of the same backroom and the same trainer so it was a lot of the same stuff there. Declan will have a word with you and he might be a bit quieter than Liam and that but we have no problem with that.
“He’s an experienced man, he has three All-Irelands with Tipperary and knows what he has to do. They’re fair to the players so we’re happy with the setup.”
McGrath insists the All-Ireland champions will not be using a lack of preparation as an excuse for Saturday night’s league reversal against Kilkenny, and that they need to improve to avoid a repeat of last year’s defeat against Dublin when the counties meet on Saturday night.
“The only difference from last year, is there was less than a week between the time we started then and this year so you can’t say that’s a factor. We’re not using any excuses for the other night. We were beaten and we just have to get down and work hard. When we came up to Parnell Park last year, we just weren’t ready and got blown out of it. Hopefully we’ll be ready for it on Saturday night.”
